The Best YouTube Business Channels of 2019

YouTube business channels can provide invaluable guidance and insight to startups and SMEs across the world. Along with advice tailored to specific industries, there are also a wide range of interviews and case studies where business leaders and successful entrepreneurs share their stories and lessons learned. 

But with so much to choose from, it can be difficult to know which channels to subscribe to. So, to complement our recent shortlists of the best business podcasts and apps of 2019, we've taken the time to sift through business-based YouTube videos to create a list of channels that will add value to your UK SME. Here’s our shortlist:

Moz

Best for: SEO
Must watch: Designing a Page’s Content Flow to Maximize SEO Opportunity

Moz’s YouTube channel boasts hundreds of videos based around improving your business' authority online. In particular, their Whiteboard Friday Series includes a collection of classroom-style lessons on SEO topics such as ‘Why Visual Assets Work Better than Infographics’ and ‘How to Earn the Amplification of Influencers’. There’s a clear focus on SEO and content marketing, but even if you outsource your digital marketing it’s well worth topping up your knowledge by regularly dropping in on Moz’s latest.

Made Simple

Best for: Quick tips
Must watch: How to Form a UK Limited Company

Made Simple provides advice and resources for business owners, entrepreneurs and startups within the UK. Full of practical business advice, their webinars and videos help guide thousands of UK SMEs through the nuances of running a successful business. Videos are a healthy mix of ‘how to guides’ and quick tips, ranging from ‘How to Form a UK Company’ to ‘Invoicing 101’. The channel also features longer videos including startup stories and detailed guides such as ‘A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Marketing Plan’ and ‘Tips to Optimize Your Personal Linkedin Profile’. But with most videos lasting no more than a few minutes each, this is a handy resource to refer to if you want speedy answers to the many questions which come with running a business in the UK.

Robin Sharma

Best for: Motivation
Must watch: What Makes A World Class Company

Robin Sharma's business books have sold over 15 million copies across 96 nations. To complement this, his YouTube channel features 'Mastery Sessions' for business owners which contain real-world tactics that can help teams achieve big goals. He's mentored the likes of NASA, FedEx, Microsoft and IBM amongst many other FORTUNE 500 firms. His most popular YouTube videos include titles such as 'How Billionaires Defeat Distraction' and '4 Tactics to Becoming a Genius Communicator'. You'll also find a range of videos on how to make changes in your personal life that will impact your approach to business, such as '7 Key Reasons to Journal' and 'How to Be Comfortable Being Alone'.

HubSpot Academy

Best for: Marketing & sales
Must watch: How to Use Tone of Voice in Social Media

Many consider HubSpot to be the leaders in inbound marketing and sales education. As such, you'll find videos on all aspects of marketing and sales on The HubSpot Academy's YouTube channel. Amongst their most popular videos are ‘How to Conduct a Social Media Audit’, ‘How to Tell a Story in Your Content Marketing’, and ‘How to Reach Your Audience with Seth Godin'. Overall, if you want to keep up with the everchanging best practice of social media marketing and sales, this is a great resource to tap into.

HMRC Gov UK

Best for: Keeping up with UK tax & business obligations
Must watch: What if I Can’t Pay My Self-Assessment Tax Bill

This is the UK’s tax, payments and customs authority’s Youtube channel. Here, you'll learn all about how to complete transactions with HMRC and you'll find guidance on how to fulfil your legal obligations as a small business owner. To give you a quick idea of the sort of videos you should expect, titles include ‘Business Expenses for the Self-Employed’ and ‘Importing Goods from the EU to the UK in a No-Deal Brexit’. Along with how-to guides, some videos also feature experts such as accountants and MPs who provide their insight on UK initiatives or legislation, such as Making Tax Digital and Help to Save.

Y Combinator

Best for: Startups & micro-businesses
Must watch: How to Get and Test Startup Ideas

Y Combinator is an accelerator based in the USA. Its channel on YouTube features a mixture of interviews with successful entrepreneurs and business owners along with advice and conversations between industry experts. From ‘Fundraising Fundamentals’ to ‘What Shutting down Your Startup Feels Like’, this is an all-rounder for any small business or startup owner looking for some real-life guidance and insight on how to make their SME stand out from the crowd.

Ted

Best for: Thought leadership
Must watch: 8 Lessons on Building a Company People Enjoy Working For

Boasting over 13 million subscribers, the Ted Talks Youtube Channel brings thought leadership and industry experts to the masses. Topics range widely from politics to technology to current affairs, with popular episodes including ‘Quantum Computing Explained’ and ‘The Biology of Gender.’ In particular, the recent ‘The Way We Work’ series puts the spotlight on the intricacies of the business world. Industry leaders and expert thinkers share their thoughts and experiences on everything from HR and management to the psychology of saving money. The result is a collection of refreshing and insightful ten-minute videos which will inspire business leaders to consider new ways of working.

The Futur

Best for: Creatives
Must watch: How to Find Your Break Even Point

This is a valuable resource for creative entrepreneurs who want to learn basic business principles. Each podcast-style video features a conversation between host Chris Do and entrepreneurs who are trying to overcome a block in their business journey or who speak candidly about how they got where they are today. Episodes include ‘9 Steps to Becoming a Creative Director’ with Adam Morgan to ‘Your Brand Identity Design Process.’ All in all, this is a valuable education platform for any creative entrepreneur who wants quick access to practical guidance and tips from the experts. 

Brendon Burchard

Best for: Inspiration & positivity
Must watch: How to Evaluate Opportunities

Brendon Burchard is a USA-based personal development trainer who runs a series of successful online courses. He’s also a bestselling author and encourages business owners and entrepreneurs to take charge of their journey. His channel covers topics that include ‘How to Deal with Self-Doubt’ to ‘How to Rethink Productivity’ and ‘How to Manage Projects with Excellence’. Overall, this is a good channel to subscribe to if you're in need of regular inspiration and pep-talks to stay focused and achieve your business goals.

Small Business Toolbox

Best for: The self-employed or early-stage startups
Must watch: How Much Should I Charge?

Run by joinery business owner Andy MacLellan, the Small Business Toolbox channel features a range of videos explaining the basics of being self-employed within the UK. Videos cover topics such as ‘Tax Receipts, Expenses and Record Keeping’ along with ‘What Is Cash Basis Accounting?’ and ‘Choosing a Name for Your Business’. The channel provides a no-nonsense look at various aspects of being self-employed in the UK and will add value to early-stage startups, micro-businesses and sole traders who want to get to grips with the basics. 

If you enjoyed our list of the best YouTube channels for business, be sure to take a quick look at our round-up of the 20 business blogs you should be following in 2019.